Films › Garry Marshall

Pretty Woman (1990)

Film

DirectorGarry Marshall

Meta takes3

Figures

Form & technique

The film's overall narrative arc → The Postfeminist Sensibility
The Rodeo Drive shopping montage
The opening scene showing Vivian getting dressed → The Pleasures of Looking
The "rescuing" motif, particularly the final fire escape scene

Tropes

The Pygmalion/Cinderella transformation plot
Vivian Ward's character transformation → The Commodity Fetish
The dynamic between Vivian's wit and Edward's stoicism

Films most connected to Pretty Woman

When Harry Met Sally... (1989) — via The Postfeminist Sensibility, The Pleasures of Looking
The Little Mermaid (1989) — via The Commodity Fetish, The Postfeminist Sensibility
Barbie (2023) — via The Commodity Fetish, The Postfeminist Sensibility
GoodFellas (1990) — via The Pleasures of Looking
Point Break (1991) — via The Pleasures of Looking
Perfect Blue (1997) — via The Pleasures of Looking
Almost Famous (2000) — via The Pleasures of Looking
Full Metal Jacket (1987) — via The Pleasures of Looking